Volunteering and EVS

Volunteering

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with us – our volunteers play an important role in our work. If you are interested in volunteering or becoming an intern, feel free to contact us.

If you are between 17 and 30, you might also be interested in participating in a project of the European Voluntary Service – check out the information below.

European Voluntary Service

European Voluntary Service (EVS) is the European Commission´s project that allows a young person (17–30 years) to become a volunteer in another country for a specified period, normally between 2–12 months. The main aim of the EVS is to develop solidarity, mutual understanding, tolerance and active citizenship among the young people. The service activities range from cultural endeavours, environment, service activities and work with children, young or elderly people. The projects of EVS involve three partners: the volunteer, the sending organization and the hosting organization. The Portuguese Platform for Women´s Rights (PpDM) is both a sending as well as a hosting organization.

The volunteering period in PpDM usually lasts 12 months and the projects are designed to have long term effects on the lives of the volunteers and on the local communities involved. The volunteers work with groups of young people, Roma and migrant women and women in rural as well as urban areas. We expect to have long term effects in terms of interculturality, empowerment, knowledge of the Youth in Action Program and active participation of the civil society on a national as well a European level. The project raises awareness about women’s rights among the youth and the broader society in general.

The volunteers are involved in all daily routines of PpDM (located in the Centro Maria Alzira Lemos – Casa das Associações), they work together not only with the Portuguese Platform for Women´s Rights but also with the other organizations in the House of Associations. Moreover, PpDM encourages the volunteers to take part in activities offered by the partners. The volunteers engage with the general public when organizing activities, conduct research related to the field of women´s rights, help further develop the Documentation and Research Center, visit women´s organizations outside Lisbon and develop their own activities regarding women´s empowerment and awareness raising. To make it easier for volunteers to get used to living in a new country, language courses are offered and the volunteers are provided with a mentor who helps them socialize and find free time activities which they would be interested in. Although the volunteering is unpaid, EVS covers the costs for transportation, medical attendance and living costs in the hosting country.

Young people who are interested in participating at an EVS project should contact PpDM directly or through a sending organization. The projects start either in spring or in autumn. If there should be a volunteering position available, we will ask you to send a Europass CV and a motivation letter. The selection procedure involves both the sending and the hosting organization. After receiving the Europass CV and the motivation letter, the selection will be made according to the available project and the related skills. We will contact the candidates for a Skype interview, after which the volunteers will be chosen. Other topics related to the project will be discussed through further correspondence. From our side, we find it vital to inform the candidates about the work of PpDM and the practical aspects of the project, such as arrangements for accommodation, food, the country, the city and possible difficulties that might come up.

For more information on the EVS program, please visit the following page: European Voluntary Service.
Do not hesitate to contact us if you are interested in volunteering with PpDM or if you want to get more information about volunteering opportunities abroad.